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M/Sgt J Gunning

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fana
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M/Sgt J Gunning

This man was "ground crew" according to the MACR which refers to the loss of 42-7567, 2/Lt R A BLOMBERG. The aircraft was shot down on the Gotha mission. Gunning was assigned as a waist gunner for this mission. Was this "usual" or was there some other explanation for this??
Would be interested to know more about this man.. Oh, and by the way, I am still VERY into things "Big Week"; are there any other 445th'ers with a similar interest?
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    shooshoobaby
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    RE: M/Sgt J Gunning (permalink)
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    S/Sgt. John Gunning KIA - Montebello , Cal.
    It was not unusual , mostly earlier in the War  , for Ground Crewmen to fly Combat Missions. This was especially true when Missions like during Big Week were " Max Efforts " which required Groups to get every A/C available in the Air. There was a shortage of Gunners due to KIA , WIA , Frostbite etc.    
    As a good example: The 306th BG recruited over 30 Ground Crew . Cooks  , Mechanics etc. were given some Gunnery training and assigned to Combat Crews.
    My Dad was a P -51 Pilot in the 357th FG. C5 - L " Shoo Shoo Baby ". The 357th flew Escort for the " Big Week " Missions.
    Mike 
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    jboehm
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    RE: M/Sgt J Gunning (permalink)
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    Howdy, Fana -
     
    Speaking of Big Week and the 445th:
    you can read the story of the Suitch crew at this site. They drew the Feb 24 attack on Gotha as their first mission. Capt Eugene Waldher, the operations officer of the 700th bomb squadron, flew as co-pilot.
     
    Jay Boehm

    In memory:
    S/Sgt John "Jack" W. Hurst
    Left Waist Gunner, 445th BG
    POW Stalag Luft VI and IV
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    Mike.Simpson
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    RE: M/Sgt J Gunning (permalink)
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    Fana:
     
    It was not unusual forground personnel to fly as replacements for air crews if they were rated for the position they would fly.
     
    It's interesting you asked about that particular crew.  Did you notice the name of the copilot for this mission?  He was the brother of the actor Richard Widmark.

    Mike Simpson
    Webmaster & Unit Historian
    445th Bomb Group (Heavy)
    www.445bg.org
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